Newly acquired banksia - too late to prune, etc?

[KateO'B]

Great site - a lot of ground to cover! But I think for a my first effort I posted this question in the wrong place. Oops! Try again.
Have just been given a banksia - unsure what type: shortish leaves, slight serration. Has fair age by the look of the trunk circumference but not a lot of recent attention, covered in spindly 6-8 inch branches with leaves right on the ends (some a little yellow). Since previous owner had been sick for some time, it's probably also root bound.. Would it be too late now (March) to a) prune branches; b) root prune; or maybe both? The weather is still quite warm, would I get away with it?
PS -Still have to work out how to upload photos.
PPS - Have been doing bonsai for quite some years but other than figs, this is my first native.

[shibui]

On the south coast it may be still possible but I found with my experimental banksia repots a few years ago that the ones I root pruned in March just sat and sulked all through winter. Eventually started to grow in late spring but long after the others so I would hold off on the root pruning now - but that is here in the hills.
I find that banksias have huge masses of fine roots and are inclined to fill almost any pot in less than a year. This can make them very hard to water properly but should be less of a problem over winter. Repotting at the earliest opportunity would be a good idea.

Pruning branches is a different matter. I prune branches at any time of year. They will bud up and shoot at the next opportunity (might be a week, maybe a month or 2) but they will grow back.
Banksias do tend to go yellow easily and this is even worse because people are reluctant to use fertiliser on them. Start with weaker than recommended low P fert and gradually increase the strength over the next few months. Yellow is sometimes iron deficiency. in any case, a dose of Iron Chelates will not hurt.

[KateO'B]

Many thanks for the most informative reply - feel a lot more confident and can't wait to start on it.
Cheers!

[kcpoole]

I would do a light repot and trim now.
In sydney mine ( Serrata) grow throughout the winter and not stop so unless you elevated and get cold then you should be fine.

Ken

[KateO'B]

Again, many thanks!
Investigated the pot yesterday, roots may not be as bad as I thought - the soil is fairly open and breaks up reasonably easily - not a lot of compaction. Just the same, I don't think the tree is in too good a condition. Have stirred a little native fertilizer under the surface and watered with a light brew of Seasol. Resisted a heavy hair cut, just tip pruned. Will make a heavy prune a very gradual process and see how it goes. Fingers crossed!
Cheers.